11/01/2026
A nice review of the 2027 dressage tests
A little guide to the new USDF Dressage Tests 🥰
I have had the great honor of being a member of the USDF Test Writing Committee for the past two test cycles and it’s hands down my favorite volunteer position 🤩 I learn so much every year and having the opportunity to shape our sport in little ways has been incredible.
Here is a list of all the changes to the tests and my take on them:
Intro Level:
HARMONY has been added to the purpose of the test at this level and all other levels. I love the emphasis on movements being performed with ease and harmony ❤️
No change to Intro A.
Intro B now has a long diagonal of free walk instead of a short diagonal, allowing for a little more space to develop and show the free walk, especially since this test is ridden occasionally in the short court.
In Intro C a little more canter was added. Before, it was just barely one circle and it was often over before it started. The walk has been moved from the end of the test to the middle of the test to break up the two trot/canter sets. A great way to give horses and riders a moment to catch their breath if needed and get organized again.
Training Level:
Emphasis on confident acceptance with the bit as well as bend on circles and in corners. Accuracy and correct geometry are required.
Practice your circles and one loops! The judges are onto you 😜
No changes to any of the Training Level patterns. In Training 3 the walk-trot transition and the second trot one loop now each have their own score and are not grouped together anymore which is a great change for both judges and riders. This way Training 3 now has 14 movements instead of 13.
First Level:
The purpose of the test now starts with: “In addition to the Training Level requirements…”
This wording is to show that all tests and levels are building on top of each other as you move up the levels and is now used in all purposes of the levels from First through Fourth Level. Personally, I really like this especially with how systematically each test is designed to help the horse-rider combination develop the skills needed to move up to the next higher test.
The stretchy circle in First 1 has been moved to the end of the test. I think this rides a lot better and always found, especially with young horses, that it was a bit of a scramble to gather the reins after the stretch circle, have one corner to prepare and then do a trot lengthening 🤪
The free walk in First 2 has been shortened to R-V from the original M-V. This gives the judges a little bit more medium walk to evaluate. The second canter transition on the diagonal is now “approaching F” instead of “at F”. A small change in wording but it should make it more clear to the riders that the transition is to happen while still on the diagonal and not at some point in the corner.
First 3 saw the long awaited redo and I think we have outdone ourselves 😇 It’s now shorter, symmetrical and very horse and rider friendly. It should also be much easier to memorize. The movements have mostly stayed the same, only the 15m canter circles have been removed. Can’t wait to watch everybody ride this one!!!
Second Level:
Only one small change to Second 1: the last turn onto the centerline is now a half 10m circle instead of “S turn left, I turn left”. I like this change, especially at this level where riders and horses are just learning the very beginning of collection.
There is no change to the actual pattern to Second 2 but the two half 10m circles between the two shoulder ins and the two Travers now have their own scores. I really love this instead of them being grouped together with the shoulder in and Travers.
Before the turn on the haunches it now says “shorten the steps in walk” instead of just “collect”.
The trot and walk tour of Second 3 remains the same but the canter tour saw a big change. There is a medium canter down 3/4 of the long side, collect, half 10m circle returning to the rail followed by a half 20m counter canter circle and a simple change on the rail. A very similar pattern is used in the FEI 5 year old test and I always really liked riding it with the babies 😊There was nothing really wrong with the three loop counter canter serpentine or the simple change across the diagonal but sometimes it’s good to change things up!
Third Level:
Now added to the purpose of the level is that “There should be confident acceptance of the flying change aid.”
Noted! Correct flying changes are required at this level ✅
No changes to any of the patterns at Third Level. All three tests are well designed and ride well.
Just one tiny change in Third 2: The clear release of both reins on the 20m canter circle is now 3-5 strides instead of 4-5 strides.
Fourth Level:
No changes to Fourth 1 and 2 and only some minor changes to Fourth 3 to make the test more symmetrical and to give the judges the opportunity to evaluate both canter half passes and working canter pirouettes from the front.
Fourth 3 saw it’s big redo at the last test cycle and I have noticed since then that it gets utilized significantly more and riders are not skipping from Third Level to PSG anymore. Fourth Level is now actually my favorite level because it builds all skills required for the jump to FEI very systematically from Fourth 1 to Fourth 3.
As far as the Freestyles are concerned there are just two things I would like to mention:
Any trot or canter lengthening/medium/extension on a curved line can last max half of a 20m circle in 1st through 4th Level freestyles. If you have a full 20m circle in your freestyle you may want to check this out!
Similar to the FEI Freestyle sheets there are now 5 instead of 6 artistic impression scores. Music and interpretation have merged and now have a coefficient of 4 together instead of 2 each.
I hope this summary of the changes to the tests has been helpful!
If you have any suggestions, input or ideas for the next test cycle feel free to leave a comment here or to message me! These tests are truly designed to benefit the horses and riders by people who care deeply about our sport ❤️
